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Hurricane Dorian lashes US as Bahamas counts cost Hurricane Dorian lashes US as Bahamas counts cost
(3 days later)
Hurricane Dorian is expected to bring "life-threatening storm surges" up the US east coast after causing destruction and at least 20 deaths in the Bahamas. Heavy rains from Hurricane Dorian are battering the south-eastern seaboard of the US after causing at least 30 deaths and much destruction in the Bahamas.
The category two storm is currently lashing the coast of the Carolinas as it moves slowly north. Tens of thousands of people are without power. Dorian, now a category one storm, has left thousands of homes in South and North Carolina without power as it moves slowly northwards.
Residents from Georgia to Virginia are being told to listen to official advice. Forecasters warn that some areas could experience dangerous storm surges.
Weather officials said Dorian would weaken slowly over the next few days. On 1 September, Dorian hit the Bahamas with winds of up to 185mph - equalling the highest ever recorded at landfall.
It currently has maximum sustained winds of 110mph (175km/h), down from 115mph earlier in the day. It battered the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, in the north of the archipelago, for two days.
On 1 September it hit the Bahamas with winds of up to 185mph - equalling the highest ever recorded at landfall. It battered the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, in the north of the archipelago, for two days. Officials say the final death toll in the Bahamas will be staggering.
Dorian is expected to weaken slowly over the next few days.
It currently has maximum sustained winds of 90mph (150km/h), down from 105mph earlier in the day.
Bahamas PM Hubert Minnis called the storm "one of the greatest national crises in our country's history". He expected the number of fatalities to increase.Bahamas PM Hubert Minnis called the storm "one of the greatest national crises in our country's history". He expected the number of fatalities to increase.
What's the latest on the storm?What's the latest on the storm?
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that at 11:00 local time (15:00 GMT) Dorian was 50 miles (80km) south-east of Charleston and moving north at about 8mph. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that at 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) Dorian was 55 miles (90km) east of Wilmington in North Carolina and moving north-east at about 15mph.
The NHC said Dorian "continues to lash the coast of the Carolinas. Hurricane conditions are likely over portions of the area later on Thursday". The NHC said Dorian would move "near or over" the coast of North Carolina in the next few hours.
It is expected to turn north-east later on Thursday and speed up. In South Carolina, more than 250,000 homes and businesses in coastal areas were left without power, officials said.
South Carolina has prepared for a record storm surge and the effects are already being felt. More than 100,000 people were without power in coastal areas on Thursday morning, energy officials said. Social media footage showed flooding in the centre of the city of Charleston.
Social media footage showed flooding in central Charleston.
Dorian is forecast to move close to the coast of South Carolina on Thursday, then "near or over" the coast of North Carolina overnight and on Friday. It should move to the south-east of New England on Friday night and approach Nova Scotia on Saturday.
Graphics showed waters could rise up to 8ft (2.4m) above ground level on the South Carolina coast, and up to 15in of rain could fall in the coming days.Graphics showed waters could rise up to 8ft (2.4m) above ground level on the South Carolina coast, and up to 15in of rain could fall in the coming days.
"Time to get out is running out," the state's governor Henry McMaster told reporters.
More than 2.2 million people have been ordered to evacuate along the eastern seaboard.More than 2.2 million people have been ordered to evacuate along the eastern seaboard.
US President Donald Trump earlier held up a map incorrectly suggesting Dorian could hit Alabama. Some observers said it looked as though a line around the state was drawn with a felt pen.
The president has since said he did not know why the chart showed this.
Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson meanwhile earlier suggested on Twitter that prayer could drive the storm away. She defended her now-deleted tweet, claiming that those praying should not be treated with "mockery or condescension".
Mile upon mile of destructionMile upon mile of destruction
Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, the Abaco IslandsAleem Maqbool, BBC News, the Abaco Islands
We've heard about the record-breaking strength of Hurricane Dorian for days now but to see the impact on the ground is staggering.We've heard about the record-breaking strength of Hurricane Dorian for days now but to see the impact on the ground is staggering.
Roofs just lifted up and slammed to the ground, buildings all but destroyed. Having flown over the Abaco Islands, I can tell you there is mile upon mile of this. Roofs were just lifted up and slammed to the ground, buildings all but destroyed. Having flown over the Abaco Islands, I can tell you there is mile upon mile of this.
The northern Bahamas have borne the brunt of the storm's ire and this is where in the coming days the humanitarian needs are going to be acute. The northern Bahamas have borne the brunt of the storm's ire. This is where, in the coming days, the humanitarian needs are going to be acute.
What's the latest in the Bahamas?What's the latest in the Bahamas?
Although Grand Bahama suffered severe damage and floods, the Abaco Islands were hardest hit. Footage taken from the air showed vast swathes of destruction. Homes, roads and businesses were torn apart, and high waters remain.Although Grand Bahama suffered severe damage and floods, the Abaco Islands were hardest hit. Footage taken from the air showed vast swathes of destruction. Homes, roads and businesses were torn apart, and high waters remain.
Health Minister Duane Sands told the Washington Post 17 had died in the Abaco Islands and three on Grand Bahama. These figures are reportedly expected to rise as rescuers search through the devastated country. The official death toll so far is 30, but Health Minister Duane Sands said he believed the final toll would be far higher.
"Let me say that I believe the number will be staggering," he told local radio.
"I have never lived through anything like this and I don't want to live through anything like this again."
"There's nothing left in most of Marsh Harbour," said Alicia Cook, who evacuated from the area in the Abaco Islands. "People are starting to panic: pillaging, looting.""There's nothing left in most of Marsh Harbour," said Alicia Cook, who evacuated from the area in the Abaco Islands. "People are starting to panic: pillaging, looting."
Bob Cornea also spoke to the BBC in the capital Nassau after being evacuated from Marsh Harbour. He said he and his wife had taken shelter on the second storey of their son's house.Bob Cornea also spoke to the BBC in the capital Nassau after being evacuated from Marsh Harbour. He said he and his wife had taken shelter on the second storey of their son's house.
"Water was up to my neck. It stayed like that for two or three hours... My son... he got us out and we got over to safety."Water was up to my neck. It stayed like that for two or three hours... My son... he got us out and we got over to safety.
"We've been through all kinds of hurricanes, all kinds of storms: never anything that bad. I mean, it was like we were standing in the middle of the ocean. That's what it looked like. Waves, the water just crashing in over us. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.""We've been through all kinds of hurricanes, all kinds of storms: never anything that bad. I mean, it was like we were standing in the middle of the ocean. That's what it looked like. Waves, the water just crashing in over us. Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying."
The British Royal Navy vessel RFA Mounts Bay has begun landing personnel and emergency aid to the Abacos. Helicopters and three UK humanitarian experts have been helping to co-ordinate the rescue response. The British Royal Navy vessel RFA Mounts Bay has begun landing personnel and emergency aid on the Abacos. Helicopters and three UK humanitarian experts have been helping to co-ordinate the rescue response.
Bringing in aid to Grand Bahama has been hampered by severe damage to its airport. The aid operation on Grand Bahama has been hampered by severe damage to its airport.
The International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - were severely damaged or destroyed.The International Red Cross fears 45% of homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos - some 13,000 properties - were severely damaged or destroyed.
Some 70,000 people are in "immediate need" of aid, UN officials said.Some 70,000 people are in "immediate need" of aid, UN officials said.
Is climate change making hurricanes worse?Is climate change making hurricanes worse?
Scientists cannot say whether climate change is increasing the number of hurricanes, but the ones that do happen are likely to be more powerful and more destructive because of our warming climate, says BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker.Scientists cannot say whether climate change is increasing the number of hurricanes, but the ones that do happen are likely to be more powerful and more destructive because of our warming climate, says BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker.
Here's why:Here's why:
Use our guide to see how these deadly storms form, their devastating effects and how they are measured:Use our guide to see how these deadly storms form, their devastating effects and how they are measured:
How have you been affected by Hurricane Dorian? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.How have you been affected by Hurricane Dorian? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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